Sacc2010

Visual Projects for Introductory Cultural Anthropology Courses
Leanna Wolfe, Ph.D.
Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges
March 18, 2010
San Francisco, CA

PhotographyProjects
Photo Observation
Photo Inventory
Photo Interview
Photo Social Interaction

PresentationBasics
Select 10 Photographs and Label each with thick (detailed) descriptions. Present either as a:
Power Point Show
Posted on Slideshare.net
Burned onto a CD/DVD
Mounted prints
On a Poster Board
In an Album

Photo Observation
Attend an event in which it would be acceptable to photograph strangers
Come with the eyes and ears of an anthropologist
Make note of everything the “natives” do
Go alone, be the guest of a key informant or attend with a co-researcher

PossiblePhoto Observation Venues:
Hockey Fans
Football Fans
Pool Hall
Sports Bar
Beauty Parlor
Car Racing
Surfing
Music
Dance Concert

Gay Culture
Singles Bar
Rave Party
Homeless Shelter
Dog Park
Tattoo Parlor
Health Spa
Low Riding
Swap Meet

Photo ObservationPresentation
Titlename of project [be creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)
Select 10 photosthat reveal cultural activities, how space is used, dress, ritual behaviors, cultural rules
Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the needs this culture satisfies as well as how they are satisfied. Describe the ways the cultural practices are effective.

Photo Inventory
Find a location in which the material objects present tell us important cultural information about the people who use this space.

You may seek the guidance of one or more of the users of this space to explain what everything is and how items are used
Photograph an overview of the space as well as detail shots from angles that reveal how the space is engaged.

Possible Photo Inventory Spaces
Homes
Bedrooms
Clubs
Kitchens
Studios
Coffee Houses
Bars
Markets

Photo InventoryPresentation
Title (name of project [pick something creative!], your name, name of course, instructor’s name, date of completion)
Select 10 photos that reveal the unique qualities of this space, how it is used, decorated and arranged. Think especially about the cultural rules and behaviors that dictate how the space is engaged.
Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the cultural needs this space satisfies.

Photo Interview
Create a photo profile of someone who interests you
Consider picking someone who is culturally different from yourself.

Think about groups that you have little or no interaction with or knowledge about and that you are curious to learn more about.
Try to choose someone who is different from you in multiple dimensions of diversity (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, social class, religion, primary language, etc.).

Photo InterviewProcess
With your subject’s permission shoot a series of photographs that you and they think reveal who they are and how they live. They may want to change costumes and show you who they are in different settings that they inhabit. (You may choose to focus on one aspect of their cultural world…and just photograph that.)
Print out the best photos and return to have them reflect on what they say. Have them write out their responses…
Prepare a presentation that incorporates their comments on who they are, what their cultural practices mean to them as well as your anthropological view of their world(s).

Photo InterviewPresentation

Select 10 photos that best reveal the uniqueness of the subject you chose.

Use detailed descriptions plus your subject’s commentaries to tell us what is culturally unique about your subject.

Photo SocialInteraction
Record people engaging in an activity.
Photograph people in relationship to each other
The activity may reveal differences in status, role and gender.

Your series of photographs should reveal stages in the interaction as in a sale, a conversation, a dance or a process.

PossibleVenues for Social Interactions
Swap Meet
Tennis Game
Dance
Party
Meal/Picnic
Playground
Dog Park
Contest

Photo Social InteractionPresentation

Select 10 photosthat reveal stages in a social interaction with particular consideration to how space is used and how cultural objects are engaged
Write detailed descriptions that help us to understand the cultural rules of engagement of your subjects and their cultural objects.

Sacc2010

by Leanna Wolfe on Mar 18, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

Sacc2010 — Presentation Transcript